Wendy Liu

Wendy Liu is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), affiliated with The Henry Samueli School of Engineering. Her laboratory focuses on developing bioinspired materials to modulate immune responses and engineer functional biomaterials for tissue regeneration. Key areas include biomaterials design, mechanotransduction, and macrophage biology.

Research emphasizes understanding how cellular microenvironments influence immune cell behavior, with applications in wound healing, cardiovascular systems, and medical device integration. Her interdisciplinary approach combines microfabrication, protein engineering, and high-throughput screening to create materials that mimic physiological environments.

Recent work highlights modulation of macrophage phenotype via mechanical cues (e.g., stiffness, topography) and biomaterial surface modifications. Notable projects include CD200-releasing hydrogels to suppress inflammation and co-culture systems for cartilage regeneration.

• Students advised include Jessica Schlosser (MS), Jessica Hsieh (PhD), and Thuy (awarded a CIRM training grant).
• Recent lab milestones: new postdoc Dr. Vijay Meli, FDA appointment for Dr. Frances McWhorter, and MS graduate Jessica Schlosser.
• Labs/Teams: Liu Lab (UCI), with collaborations on biomaterials and immunology.